Its only rivals in age are Jamestown and one or two of the Spanish towns of the far south. The genesis of its history will be found in the little trading station called Fort Orange, which was established in 16 14. The hardiness of the pioneers who gained this foothold in the remote wilderness may only be estimated when we recall the fact that the nearest neighbours of their own blood were more than three thousand miles distant and that the ocean lay between. The story of the tenure of that outpost may best be told in the words of a petition

of the Patroon and Co-directors of the Colonic called Rensselaers-Wyck, situate along the North river in New Netherland, to the effect that the Freedoms which were granted to whomsoever should plant any Colonies in New Netherland being drawn up and made public in print in the year 1630, by the Assembly of the Nineteen of the bicorporated West India Company; Kiliaen

An Old Dutch Town 519

van Rensselaer did, in the same year 1650, purcliase from the owners and proprietors, and them paid for a certain ])arccl of land, extending up the river South and North off from Fort Orange unto a little besouth of Moeneminnes Castle; and tlic land called Semesseeck lying on the East l)ank opposite Castle Island, up unto the aforesaid fort. Item, from Petanoch the millstream North unto Negagonse, in extent about three leagues, with all the timber, appendices and dependencies thereof. And, accordingly, being entered into possession of said lands, he had there, at his great cost, established a considerable Colonic and from time to time so improved it that a village or hamlet was founded there, first called de Fuyck, afterwards Beverswyck and now Willemstadt, whereabouts the aforesaid Fort Orange was formerly built.